This morning at Lake Merritt there was a male Tufted Duck in the scaup flock at the El Embarcadero or Grand Lake Theater lobe of the lake. The tuft was very short and only visible when the bird was

The male Hooded Merganser continued yesterday at dusk on Jewel Lake (Tilden RP, accessible from the Nature Area for those new to the area). There were 2 females as well, all seen in the SW corner of

Yesterday I was surprised to see 21 Double-crested Cormorants in the cement pond in Heather Farm Park of Walnut Creek. Today I counted 25. I have not asked if the pond was recently stocked with

There's a Yellow-rumped Warbler hanging out in my yard drinking nectar from the Oriole feeder. It spends a lot of time chasing Chestnut-backed Chickadees away and I wonder if it could be defending

The first few times I saw this bird, it was in Lake Merritt at the inlet/outlet.  The tide was incoming, and the flock of goldeneyes & the hybrid were diving against the current.  It wasn't until

Today (Tues, Dec. 7), I hiked around Point Pinole Regional Shoreline in Richmond. I was unable to find the previous Brown Thrasher, but here're the consolation prizes: Birds feeding in the toyon

The second annual Eastern Alameda County Christmas Bird Count will be held on Friday, December 17. Great birding, fun birders, and free dinner afterwards! The count circle is in the vicinity of the

I did not find any Blue-winged Teals at the pond where they were originally reported (Garretson Point Staging Area, at the end of Edgewater Drive, Oakland). In this pond were CINNAMON TEALS, NORTHERN

Cool - I wonder if this is a new visitor or our regular hoodie/goldeneye cross.... That'd be a new location for our usual guy (who is apt to be near the Nature Center, up at 12th Street, or over at

Last Friday and today I saw what looked like a Hooded Merganser and Goldeneye hybrid male in Lake Merritt. He was located on the westerly side of the lake, right in front of the apartment tower at

With help from Kitty O'Neil, I was finally able to upload photos of the possible 'PINK-SIDED' JUNCO from Lake Merritt to my rarity photos web page. Here's the link to the

For those of you who tried and failed to follow the Picasa link to the photos of the possible Pink-sided Junco, here's a simpler link that should go through

Audubon Society Chapters, California Attorney General and Wind Companies Reach Agreement on Altamont Pass Old wind turbines to be replaced with new turbines that are safer for birds (Berkeley,

The Pleasanton detention pond on southwest side of Valley Ave. and Laguna Creek Lane had 1500 Red-winged Blackbirds this afternoon about 2:25. Take HY 680 to the Bernal exit headed east turn right on

Dear Birders: The last couple of days juncos have been singing throughout my Berkeley Hills neighborhood.  Not only are they singing frequently and energetically, but they are including several song

The bird continues at 1:00 today in the line of trees on the grassy mound in front of Bucci's. The parking lot where these trees are is on Hollis at 59th. A Townsend's warbler was in the same

The unusual DARK-EYED JUNCO was still at Lake Merritt today, between the lawn bowling lawns and the fountain. I have received two opinions on it so far, one in favor of 'PINK-SIDED' and the other in

I spent 2 hours out on the Berkeley Pier this morning from 7-9 am. There were lots of birds to sort through and glass calm waters making for an enjoyable morning. The real highlight was the female

Folks, I finally had an opportunity to stop in at Lake Merritt to check on Noah's Pink-sided Junco. I was able to quickly find the bird with the mixed flock of Juncos, sparrows, robins, and

On Saturday December 4th there was a pair of Blue-winged Teals in the freshwater pond near the Garretson Point Staging Area at the end of Edgewater Drive in Martin Luther King Regional Shoreline. The